O’Keefe Honored with Two M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards

The O’Keefe financial consultancy in Bloomfield Hills has been recognized for two transactions by The M&A Advisor and turnaround community.
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Pat O’Keefe

The O’Keefe financial consultancy in Bloomfield Hills has been recognized for two transactions by The M&A Advisor and turnaround community.

It received the “Turnaround Award (under $100 million)” for the successful turnaround of an injection molding and glass encapsulation manufacturing company. O’Keefe was able to secure price increases, develop a turnaround strategy and revise the capital structure to support the plan and prevent the Company from liquidation which saved not only a more than 20-year business, but numerous jobs.

The company also was honored with the “Restructuring Community Impact Award” for its efforts at Finlandia University.

A university started for Finnish immigrants who came to Michigan for copper mining jobs, O’Keefe was hired as the receiver due to a long history of financial mismanagement. The collapse of the university in early 2023 left faculty and staff without jobs, students in search of alternative institutions, and unpaid salaries and benefits.

O’Keefe’s solutions allowed the university’s faculty and staff who deferred salary over the summer months to get paid before the Christmas holiday. O’Keefe’s efforts included working with administration for a teach-out plan allowing qualified students to be awarded degrees and a smooth transition for transferring students. The university was liquidated over a six-month period involving dispositions of dorms, classrooms, library, athletic facilities, and personal property. Many of the staff found employment with a nearby university. The Finnish American Cultural Center with many cultural artifacts belonging to the university was preserved in a sale to the Finlandia Foundation National. This sale was very important to the local community.

“Our team continues to resolve seemingly impossible challenges,” says Pat O’Keefe, founder and CEO of O’Keefe. “I am proud of our professionals’ can-do, tireless efforts which result in successes that positively impact businesses, communities, families, and legacies,”

The awards will be received at a black-tie awards gala on Tuesday, March 25 at The Ben Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla.